LITMIR.BIZ

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or no?”

      “Yes. Si!” replied Damien.

      “Bueno! You listen. Now, business! I have decided to charge you only $7 million Canada and $3 Americano. That is what you owe me and I am honourable man. If you do not think your wife and girl are worth that, then shut up the phone now!”

      Damien held the phone. The seconds that went by seemed like an eternity. Panic flooded his brain out of fear that there would be an accidental disconnection. Finally Carlos spoke again.

      “On Monday, I will call. You will bring $3.5 million Canada to where I say. Any policia or any of your hombres go with you ... then we will find out how many parts your wife and girl can lose before she both dies. We also find out if your girl is old enough to enjoy a man. Do you understand me, Damien? You say now. Yes or no!”

      “Yes.”

      “On Wednesday, you will pay another $3.5 Canada. After, I tell you how you make last payment!”

      The line went dead, but Damien hung onto the phone, too stunned to be bothered by the dial tone. Then he turned to his men. His voice was barely audible when he said, “Carlos didn’t get his money last night. Vicki ... Katie ... he will kill them if we don’t pay.”

      “That fuckin’ bastard is dead!” yelled Rellik.

      “He says we still owe him $3.5?” asked Lance. “How much time do we have?”

      “He wants $7 million Canadian first, then a final payment of $3 mil U.S.”

      “What!” roared Whiskey Jake. “We only owed him $3.5! And that’s if he didn’t already rip us off! Maybe he’s got The Toad on ice too!”

      “If he had The Toad and the money, I can’t see why he would do this,” offered Damien, lamely. “He wants me to deliver $3.5 on Monday, then again on Wednesday. After that he’ll tell me when he wants the rest.”

      “The extra money,” said Lance. “He’s charging us for the first boatload! The one the fucking DEA took down in San Diego!”

      Damien’s brain was racing ahead to Monday. He pointed his finger at Whiskey Jake and Lance and said, “The dope from last night! Sell it fast!”

      “We’ll never get the cash in time,” said Whiskey Jake.

      “Give it away at cost!” said Damien. He clenched his teeth, causing the tendons in his neck to stand out. Then he said, “Just get the cash we need by Monday!”

      Whiskey Jake’s voice showed his concern. “The load is worth over $20 million. Stall for a couple of weeks and we’ll have it all.”

      Damien grabbed him by the front of the shirt with both hands and shook him like a dog with a rat and yelled, “There is no fucking stalling!” He then used one hand to grab Whiskey Jake by the crotch and yelled, “If Vicki loses any more parts, so will you! Understand?”

      The look on Whiskey Jake’s face indicated he understood. Damien released his grip and his voice returned to a normal level but did not hide his deadly intention. “Get to work. Four strikers with Buck and Sarah at all times. I’m leaving.”

      “Where are you —” Lance started to ask.

      “None of your business,” replied Damien, as he ran into the house.

      Jack was almost asleep when he received the phone call from Damien. Moments later, he rushed to the parking garage where his car was parked. There was no missing the urgency in Damien’s voice when he said he wanted to meet immediately. Hope he used a cool phone...

      Lance entered Damien’s house in time to see that he had just finished making a call on the cellphone that Carlos had provided. He spotted the 9mm tucked in Damien’s belt — something his boss had not carried in years.

      “I’m coming with you,” said Lance. “It’s not safe.”

      Damien shook his head and said, “This is something I need to do alone. Start selling the fucking...” Damien stopped when he realized he was inside the house, then said, “You do what you were told to do!” He rushed toward the door to the garage but stopped and ran back to the kitchen. He grabbed a small picnic cooler from the fridge and then ran to the garage.

      On a normal day, Damien might have spotted the surveillance team and taken appropriate action. Today was not normal. His mind was on his family as he drove.

      Cecil Hinds watched as Damien parked his car in Stanley Park. Part of the surveillance team remained with the car while others followed Damien on foot.

      “T-1 is carrying a small cooler,” reported Nicole. “Maybe meeting someone for a picnic.”

      “Who is the big question,” replied Hinds. “Stay with him, but give him lots of room.”

      Damien didn’t mince words when he sat beside Jack on a park bench, placing the cooler between them. “I need a favour. Now!” he said.

      Jack was surprised. “I don’t owe you any favours! We’re even! A tonne of coke and a murder makes us more than even!”

      “This isn’t about that!” said Damien, harshly. Then his voice softened and he said, “I mean I would like a favour from you. I’d owe you this time.”

      Jack was caught off guard. Why would he come to me, even if two of his guys were murdered? Is he hoping I can locate The Toad? He eyed Damien and the cooler curiously. He’s more agitated than I expected. Thought he would be happy that the heat’s on The Toad. And the cooler ... what’s that all about? Jack cleared his throat, then said, “Last time we met you said you would never give me another favour. Remember?”

      “I remember.”

      “So why should I believe you would ever pay me back?”

      “Because I’m telling you I will! I gave you one on credit! I’m just asking for the same!”

      Jack nodded, then said, “You can do me a favour first. An easy one. Your lawyer friend, Leitch, deals with a guy who has a British accent. Looks Indo. I want him.”

      “I don’t know who that is,” said Damien, his face reddening.

      “He’s connected with your club!”

      “If he is, I’ll find out! I just don’t know right now!”

      “He knows The Toad. He met with The Toad and then with Leitch three weeks ago. They were all paranoid, so something was going on!” Jack studied Damien’s face closely as he spoke. What I’m telling him ... his face ... he already knows! Thought it would take another few days. Jack stared at Damien and then said, “The Toad works for you. Call him and ask.”

      “We tried! Nobody knows where the fuck he is! That’s what I want you to do! Find him!”

      “You want me to find The Toad? He had something to do with a couple of your strikers getting shot in a motel last night, didn’t he?”

      “Are you going to help me or not? First tell me that! You help me find The Toad and I swear I’ll find out who this British guy is!”

      Jack leaned back and briefly massaged the back of his neck. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll take you at your word, but tell me what’s going on.”

      Damien handed Jack the cooler and said, “Open it!”

      Jack placed the cooler on his lap and heard the sound of ice moving around inside. He opened it and looked in. A plastic bag containing a girl’s panties lay on top of the ice.

      “Under them,” said Damien. “Look under them.” Jack dug deeper into the ice and found another plastic bag. It contained a human finger.

      “What’s this?” said Jack.

      The

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